I'd have said more than "thanks"

The new owner managed to destroy the business in 2 years and left owing a lot of money to people. Good riddance to bad rubbish. Shame as OME was an excellent Kawasaki dealership

Alpha Custom Bikes & Cruiser Accessories

Fan-freaking-tastic.
A small shop in Chislehurst, Kent run by a great guy called Ali. Super friendly, a nice cuppa while waiting and deliberating, witty banter; and he even went out of his way to cut some bolts to the right length so that the saddlebag supports would fit my bike properly, at no extra cost.

Great shop. I'd highly recommend it for anyone with a Jap or Yank cruiser who wants some shiny bits to add on (which is everyone!)

hi all i am new to you all my name is john

Hi John welcome to the bike shop thread, I'm sure some kind moderator will move it.



But welcome anyway.

yeah very good if they answer the phone!

http://www.teamroberts.co.uk/8422/teamroberts.htm

30, Doncaster Rd,
Conisborough,
Doncaster,
South Yorkshire
DN12 4ET


Tel: 01709 860001
Mob: 07973 335533

Absolutely smashing bunch of folks. Incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and their attention to customer satisfaction is second-to-none.

I'd like to recommend Bikecare in St George in Bristol - a great bunch in there, always do great work, very reasonably priced and totally non patronizing When you're waiting they've even been known to make you a cup of tea.. what more could you ask for ?

Two sugars?

Anybody know what castle motorcycles are like in castleford??

David Jones Motorcycles - Newtown, Powys, Mid Wales - GREAT

As a shop, they're pretty standard, range/price is average. But I just got my bike back from the garage, they did a complete clutch overhaul on the thing. Communication was good, they got the parts in no time, the labour charges weren't too bad, and it was done much quicker than I expected. They even used the oil/filter I'd left with the bike instead of making me pay for theirs.

Anyway, nice guys who clearly know what they're doing.

I haven't been able to find any recent recommendations for a Suzuki dealer in South West London?

The Gixxer Sixxer is coming up to it's 15,000 mile service, and as she's got a near-full service history at dealerships, thought I should continue the trend.

Metropolis in Vauxhall is pretty close to me - anyone have any opinions on them?

(any idea on how much I should expect to pay? The Haynes manual suggests all of the usual, up to and including Valve clearances)

I bought my K6 from West London Suzuki, but that was my only contact with them. They were friendly & set no alarm bells off- can't imagine they'd be any kind of problem.

I can't remember any specifics to back it up, but I'm wary as soon as your Vauxhall dealership's name came up. Do a bit more research, maybe the gripes I can remember are ancient history...

Southern Cross Motorcycles near Kilburn Tube Station have built an impressive reputation.

Essential Rubber in Downham Road N1 are shockingly cheap and absolutely do the business.

From a posh dealer, I'd expect to pay 300 notes for the valve clearance service on a GSX- R600, provided it's within tolerances (my K6 was at 30000miles).

HTH

ordered my swift m2r boots at 1.30am 0n 23rd got them today. excellant service and goods as expected.

ghostbikes.com in preston

I have nothing but good things to say about Brackley Yamaha, they were courteous, did everything they said they would when they said they would, were patient with my noob questions and bunged a whole load of free and heavily discounted gear in when I bought my ybr125.

The starter motor on my Gpz croaked and I needed to get another one from a breakers. How much do you reckon DK spares wanted for a s/h starter motor.....................................................................................£120 +vat +delivery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I tried Partfinder and they varied from £50 to £120 or I could have got a reconditioned one for £150 but in the end I picked up one on e bay for £30. If it works I'll be happy.

I've visited Phoenix motorcycles near to my work in wiltshire several times and always found them friendly and helpful. Took the bike there today for some minor work and they kept the price down to basic labour..
Top fellas..

do's anyone know of any decent places in liverpool id be gratefull if you could help, cheers

For Bike gear, use raceleathers in Darwin, they do mail order too. their website is "www.raceleathers.co.uk"

For Bike spares, use bitz for bikes in Rochdale, they also do mail order, very cheap on prices and excellent delivery times. Their website is "www.bitzforbikes.co.uk"

Both these companies advertise on ebay too

Incredible lack of dealers in Wales. So here are a few I looked at anyone has more info on them good or bad let me know.

OK so far I found Wayne Bowen Motorcycles. In Treorchy Rhondda Cynon Taff. They are helpfull just had my 5000 mile service done, not sure if the price was a bit high but it was done, The staff are good and helpful eventhough I didnot buy my bike from them. So far so good will keep you all updated.

Thunderroad in Bridgend.. mmm huge shop but its the oh my god a new biker chick attitude. Though for clothes they were helpful.

W. Mounter Motorcycles in Pontypridd, had a look, loads of bikes, I would say customer service could be improved on. I felt like I was a bother trying to get a price for a brand new bike, while staff ate fish n chips after 15:00 hr behind the counter. They were all very busy not giving a waiting prospective customer.. What will they be like with a bike.

Garlands, Haverfordwest. Maybe not the cheapest but helpfull staff and knowledgeable.

MPH Motorcycles Milford Haven , this is a Honda Dealer, never found out what they could have been like, they never came out into the shop to see if I needed help or wanted to buy something. Staff was too busy talking to each other in the back.. I waited for 15 mins, I bought my Honda from somewhere else.

Needham's Motorcycles
13 Balby Road
Doncaster
South Yorkshire
DN4 0RA

Telephone: 01302 323846
Fax: 01302 645241

Tiny little place but don't be fooled, the bloke is straight up, totally genuine. Took the SV in for it's MOT recently and the front wheel bearings were shot. I was handed a tray of tools and told to get the wheel off while he hunted for a new bearing. We did the work then and there and the bike passed no problem. I was only charged for one test and the bearing, no labour.

Top bloke

http://www.streetbike.co.uk/

Streetbike in Halesowen, have used them many times and have always had consistantly good service, decent prices and even the spannermen are quite curtious.

Yesterday my ZZR600 failed its MOT on a leaky front tyre valve. They had to charge for it obviously but didn't charge for a second MOT.

Collected the bike from their carpark. but then when I put the key in the ignition the bike died with a flat bat.

Asked them for either a jump start but instead they took it back into the garage and gave it a 30 minute charge and off I went! They didn't even bill me even though I was willing to do so.

It's the small things like that that make such a difference.

Well done, guys

Johns of Romford
Wouldn't go near them with someone elses barge pole.
I bought my 'blade new from them because they were £200 cheaper than the next place.

Got crash bungs put on as part of the deal & they royally fecked that up- fairing holes drilled in the wrong place
stressing the fairing. Had a lengthy list of gripes about the "service" I received there too, none worth mentioning.

Wouldn't go there again, even if they offered a free service on my CB500.

Very happy with alternative South Essex Honda dealer Wybrows though.

No shortage of Essex Bikers complaining about their attitude, which is fair comment- old school, no false smiles & free cups of rubbish coffee. But they know their stuff & they take care. They also charge what it costs, not what you're expecting.

For Suzuki & other bikes out of warranty, my local bike dealer Grays Motorcycles is a place I'd happily go to again.

Black Bear Harley Davidson , Newmarket.

During the first year I had a few problems with the HD so I mailed Black Bear and told them what had happened and that I was not happy I had expected the quality to be of a better standard. Although I have to agree that the Fat Bob seems to be a machine that's ridden all year and that it suffers a bit more than the majority of HD's as they are mainly spring and summer use nether the less I was surprised by the problems I had.

Harley Davidson UK were notified by Black Bear of the problems and as a gesture of good will I am getting gift vouchers to the value of £500. It goes to show curtisy and politeness goes a long way when complaining.

So Black Bear Harley Davidson get top marks from me. The bike is fine now and I am still enjoying the ride.

Bike Business-Portsmouth

Where to begin? Couldn't do enough for me when I was buying a bike and doing my CBT, although they taught me nothing about basic maintainance which has caused a "few" problems.
When the problems started however it was a different story.

First problem was that it wouldnt start. I took it in, 3 weeks later I got a call saying it was ready. Their fix? Disconnected the immobiliser. 3 weeks to disconnect an immobiliser rather than fix what was broken which als put my insurance up. Many thanks.

Second problem, gearbox dead. I phoned to ask them to pick it up, was told it would have to wait til saturday. No problem. Saturday came and went and my bike was still sat outside my house. I phoned and asked why they never came and was told they meant next saturday. Next saturday comes, I phone to ask when they will be coming and get told that there has been an error and they wont be able to pick it up til the following wednesday, I say by 11am please as I have work. 11am wednesday comes and no one has turned up. I phone and get told that the van is full but they can do tomorrow. So they turn up 9ish thursday morning, fully 2 weeks after I called to say it had broken down, when I ask how long it will take as I have no transport to and from work the guy shrugs and says "I'll get to it when I get to it". Thanks then. I'll just walk the 15 miles to work.

Wouldn't recommend this shop for anything other than safety equipment, they bent over backwards to ensure I had the right gear for an affordable price and spent a good hour the day of my CBT stressing the importance of safety.

Won't be using them again after I get my bike back (whenever that may be) and definately wont be reccpmending them to anyone who wants to learn.

Thinking of buying a new Ducati??.... read on.

Long Story cut very short.

A few years back I bought a brand new Ducati 900ss from 3X Motorcycles in Hants.

11 months later (with full service history), on the A32, the chain snapped.
The dealer promptly picked the bike up for 'examination'.
Next day they phoned me and said I didnt have the failed part (the chain). I explained that it was obvious from the damage that it had snapped why was it so important?
Without the failed part - the chain - they could not do the work under warranty.
The quote from Ducati to repair all the damage was £3800.

I scoured the roadside where it had snapped, with no result. I asked them what would I have done had the chain snapped on the motorway? I didnt get a decent reply.

The next few weeks was a mass of letters and calls from me to and from Ducati and 3X. 3X said it ahd nothing to do with them, as it was a Ducati problem, not theirs. I asked of goodwill etc, and was told they are a business, not a charity. I didnt get that in writing, mind.

When I knew I had lost, - I went back to the dealers and I mean REALLY kicked off in the showroom. I was advising everyone who was about to buy bikes how I had been treated, showing them letters from Ducati etc. Their stance did not change.

I even wrote to MCN about doing my story (about my bike!!) but they wouldnt go near printing a story, until I had taken Duvcati to court myself.

Anyway cutting the story even shorter, I got the damage repaired myself (just making the bike roadworthy again) and part X 'd it the same day for my first of 2 Busas.

Just be wary. Amongst all the trendy logos, coffee machines, yukka plants and spotlights - once it goes to rat sh!t they drop you like a pair of whores nicks.

I have been on the prowl for a new R1 an have been in contact with CMC Cannock and George Whites of Swindon.
CMC have been really good by the fact that they seem keen to sell a bike but just unable to match prices at George Whites.
George Whites although they have the better offer it was a real pain getting hold of a salesman, they dont seem overly bothered to make a sale? This makes me think that if I do buy from there and have a problem chances are they wont bo too bothered.
Maybe I am expecting too much, but for me spending 11k is quite a big deal. As it happens I got chatting to a guy at George Whites (not a salesman as they were all too busy drinking coffee) he said to leave it for 6 months and see if there are any better deals out then, he also suggested the new GSXR and I really love the look of the Busa, so I could sway to Suzuki.
So in the end im still on my old bike, but maybe if there was a dealer nearby who at least seemed interested in selling a bike I may have changed.

I dont know why i wrote this thread as im not really slating or praising anyone!

Ok CMC Cannock, very friendly and approachable, have purchased my last 2 bikes from there.

But unfotunately I will shop around for my next bike as I would like to find a bit of a bargain.

Bad:-

Garlands Motorcycles, Old Hakin' road, Haverfordwest -- Overpriced and on my last visit they *fixed* the wrong thing, breaking the brake lights and control unit, didn't say anything to me.

Good:-

Just Motors, Thornton Industrial Estate, MilfordHaven -- Just taken over MPH Motorcycles, they also do car repairs, at very reasonable prices.
Lamos, Llandissilio, Clynderwen, SA66 7TG -- 6 work colleages use Lamos, and haven't a bad word to say about them.

Barton Reynolds - 490 London Road, High Wycombe. Good!
They have an ex Kawasaki mechanic with a soft spot for the older bikes. Apparently my forks weren't fitted properly and he adjusted them for free during my mot. He's very knowledgeable and ready for a chat.
Worth a visit.

GOOD:

Graham Bell - G.B. Motorcycle Services, motorcycle repairs & services.
10 Cunningham Rd,
Stirling,
Stirlingshire
FK7 7SW
Tel: 01786 447101.

Graham is always very helpful and is located behind JK Tyres just off Cunningham Road in Springkerse Industrial Estate. Many years ago used to work as the mechanic at SCOTBIKE in Causewayhead Road, now on his own.

Marty's Paintshop http://www.martyspaintshop.i12.com/

Used him a couple of times now for plastic welding and hes always given a great service at very reasonable prices.

David Skipper: 01603 754161

Based just behind School Garage, Felthorpe, Norwich.

My son tried to book his bike in for it's first service and was told that they couldn't do it for weeks because he hadn't bought it there and they had their own customers to do!!!! He had given them the chance to supply a bike at the same price as another Suzuki dealership but they wouldn't match the price. We shan't be taking our Suzies there ever again. He rode out to another dealership who did it straight away and gave him excellent service throughout.

Wemoto are pretty good. I've used them several times and the parts are always delivered quickly. I ordered a new ignition switch yesterday at about 3pm and it arrived today at 1pm.
It went straight on the bike with no problems and the bike is now operational again.

+1

and they were great when I made a hash of an order and phoned them to check

And here - never had any problems with them, always helpfull and prompt dispatches.

They provided me with a clutch cable when Kawasaki not only couldn't but didn't know what they were talking about!

Same here, always good for parts, and quick too.